How to treat prostate diseases

Prostate problems are on the rise among middle age men. WALE ADEPOJU writes on the causes and solution.

Are you a 40-year-old man? Do you urinate often or have pains while urinating? Check your prostate.

A naturopath, Dr Godwin Ihesie, said men were likely to develop prostate problems as they advance in age.

According to him, inflammation, enlargement and cancer affect the prostate.

Ihesie, the proprietor of Natural Health Services in Ajuwon, Iju Hills in Ogun State, said the major symptoms of prostate vary.

“Some of the major symptoms are painful and difficult urination, difficulty in stopping urination and frequent urination because of incomplete emptying of the bladder.

“There could be presence of blood or pus in the urine. Some men may experience waist or lower abdominal pain while urinating. There can also be fever or general malaise, which can be depression,” he added.

Ihesie said diagnosis was important in treating prostate, adding that men should check their prostate regularly.

“They should have urine microscopy culture sensitivity (UMCS) to know if the problem is caused by infections. Some physicians may ask them to do a digital rectum examination (DRE), prostate scan and prostate specific antigen (PSA),” he added.

The condition, he said was better treated with herbs instead of orthodox medicine, adding that with the latter, there can be complications.

“Urine retention if not addressed can lead to kidney damage and inhibit other parts of the body. This is why physicians will insert catheter into the penis to remove the urine so that it doesn’t damage the kidneys,” he said.

Treatment, he said, differs in the treatment of prostate, because there are different diseases that can affect the prostate.

“If it is inflammation of the prostate known as prostatitis, herbs with anti-inflammatory or anti-microbial effect, such as corn silk, or a combination of phylantus and corn silk, golden seal, turmeric (yellow ginger) and other herbal plants are used to prepare a concoction which the sufferer should drink daily.

“On prostate enlargement, onion is used. Even when the urinary bladder is blocked, the juice of onions can be drunk every three hours to open it. A combination of phylantus and corn silk is also effective in shrinking an enlarged prostate. Sam-paper leaf known in Yoruba as ewe epin, small flower willow herb, saw palmento berry, among others, are used to prepare concoctions,” Ihesie said.

He said prostate cancer should be handled by a qualified traditional medicine practitioner.

Ihesie said prevention was better than cure. “Men should live healthy lives. They should avoid smoking and drinking, eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Fruits such as water melon, carrot, and red guava, are rich in zinc, bitter carotene and lycophine, among others

“They should also avoid stress and excessive consumption of aphrodisiac.”

He said the causes of inflammation of the prostate were infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and other kind of infections. The prostatitis can occur at any age but it is common among young men, he added.

“Prostate enlargement of benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) is seen among men who are 45 and above. It is caused by hormonal changes, which occur in that age range. There are so many factors responsible for this. They are stress, eating habits and unwholesome lifestyles, and alcohol consumption and smoking.

“Prostate cancer, which is usually a malignant degeneration of the prostate, occurs in middle ages but very common in people who are 60 and above. We have witnessed high incidence of this ailment among men of that age range.”